I too am a Progressive.

[Laelth]

The term "progressive" refers to a specific period in American history, roughly 1890-1920. It was a rather enlightened and "leftist" age, politically, and it pre-dates modern liberalism, i.e. F.D.R. Teddy Roosevelt was the foremost progressive of his day. He was famous for saying things like this:

"Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government, owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government, to dissolve the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of the statesmanship of the day."

If you agree with that statement, then you are a progressive (using the term in its accurate, historical context).

For what that's worth.

More on the Progressive Era here: http://laelth.blogspot.com

-Laelth

[Hell Hath No Fury]

1. Now THAT is --

real Progressivism, not that fake bullshit pimped by Will Marshall.

Go progressives! :applause:

[Laelth]

8. Indeed.

fyi, Julian Assange used that quote in his 2006 Wikileaks Manifesto.

-Laelth

[HereSince1628]

2. Alas, terminology isn't glued to anything.

certainly nothing as shape-shifting as political movements.

I cough up The Progressive Party of the LaFollet clan as an example and it went on into the 1940's

[Riftaxe]

3. A blogger apparently with absolutely no

idea of progressive ideology from that period of history. I believe i will stay an American Liberal, since i don't believe in eugenics and many of the other vile ideas of that particular progressive movement.

[Laelth]

4. Some good and some bad as with all ideologies.

Mostly, American progressives from that era can be summed up by the phrase, "Power to the people."

I note that we didn't get any eugenics laws during that era. On the other hand, we did get greater empowerment of the people through the 16th Amendment (direct election of Senators), the 17th Amendment (the federal income tax, i.e. progressive taxation), and the 19th Amendment (women can vote).

There's nothing wrong with being a liberal, as liberals adopted most progressive ideals, but I wanted people to know where the word came from.

-Laelth

[Riftaxe]

5. Raciel hygiene laws in this country

were advocated as part of the progressive reform, they failed.

Fortunately for everyone they failed, however they did leave a detailed history of their goals of racial hygiene via forced sterilization behind them for everyone to study.

[bahrbearian]

7. You must be confusing FDR with Hitler

Or Nazi's with Progressives

[Jackpine Radical]

6. When I call myself a progressive,

it is with the image and tradition of Bob LaFollette firmly in mind.